the morning for work none
lagged behind.

CHAPTER XX: THE SARDINIAN FORESTS

The Carthaginians returned in the evening in groups from the various
scenes of their labour and without delay consumed the provisions
provided for them. Then one by one they sauntered away down towards
the stream. Malchus was the last to leave, and having seen that all his
followers had preceded him, he, too, crossed the stream, paused a moment
at a heap of debris from the mine, and picking up three or four pieces
of rock about the size of his fist, rolled them in the corner of his
garment, and holding this in one hand moved up the hill.

Here and there he paused a moment as if interested in watching the
groups of slaves eating their evening meal, until at last he reached the
upper line of little huts. Between these and the hill top upon which
the sentries stood was a distance of about fifty yards, which was kept
scrupulously clear to enable them to watch the movements of any man
going beyond the huts. The sentries were some thirty paces apart, so
that, as Malchus calculated, not more than four or five of them could
assemble before he reached them, if they did not previously perceive
anything suspicious which might put them on the alert.

Looking round him Malchus saw his followers scattered about among the
slaves at a short distance. Standing behind the shelter of the hut he
raised his hand, and all began to move towards him. As there was nothing
in their attire, which consisted of one long cloth wound round them,
to distinguish them from the other slaves, the movement attracted no
attention from the sentries, who were, from their position, able to
overlook the low huts.

When he saw that all were close, Malchus gave a shout and dashed up the
hill, followed by his comrades.

The nearest sentry, seeing a body of fifty men suddenly rushing towards
him, raised a shout, and his comrades from either side ran towards him;
but so quickly was the movement performed that but five had gathered
when the Carthaginians reached them, although many others were running
towards the spot. The Carthaginians, when they came close to their
levelled spears, poured upon them a shower of heavy stones, which
knocked two of them down and so bruised and battered the others that
they went down at once when the Carthaginians burst upon them.

The nearest Romans halted to await the arrival of their comrades coming
up behind them, and the Carthaginians, seizi